FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Walking along West Magnolia Avenue on Fort Worth’s south side, Democratic candidate for Governor Wendy Davis points to the city’s re-development of this area as an example of her leadership on economic development issues while serving on the Fort Worth city council. “This is one I’m particularly proud of.”

Davis, now in her second term as a State Senator, also points to the Omni Hotel, next to the Fort Worth Convention Center, La Gran Plaza, and the Montgomery Plaza and others as projects she also worked on to boost the city’s economy.

I asked her how economic development in Fort Worth translates to the Governor’s race. “In Texas, we’ve done a good job obviously growing the economy,” she said. “We have a lot to be proud of. We of course, are a low tax and low regulatory state, and we need to continue to be one.”

On Monday, Davis invited political reporters to discuss economic development issues. Her Republican challenger, Attorney General Greg Abbott also campaigns for keeping Texas’ economy number one and keeping taxes and state spending low.

I asked Davis if she supports raising taxes to fund public schools, water, and transportation projects. “What we have available to us now is sufficient to meet our needs of the growing Texas economy and our education needs.”

It was Senator Davis’ filibuster last year to block the state’s new abortion rules that propelled her onto the national stage. But Republicans say she’s out of step with most Texans.

With President Obama’s unpopularity in Texas, many analysts say Davis is facing an uphill battle. When asked how concerned she is, Davis said, “It’s up to me to to prove to Texans across the state that I’m the right person.”

Davis pointed to her own Senate District, which historically has leaned Republican – as evidence she has wide appeal. “A district that President Obama lost in ’08 and in ’12 and that I was able to win because I connected with voters.”

CBS 11 News has also requested an interview with Republican Greg Abbott, who will be in Fort Worth Friday. He will speak before the Texas GOP convention.

The Democrats will hold their state convention in Fort Worth later this month.

Jack covers politics for KTVT-TV CBS 11 and has been with the station since September 2003.
This year, he has interviewed Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republicans Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, as well as Gov. Greg Abbott.
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